LESSON 15

Thermal - Structural
Exercise

Objectives:
Demonstrate the use of thermal analysis with temperature
loading.
Demonstrate the use of structural analysis with
temperature loading.

PATRAN 322 Exercise Workbook

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PATRAN 322 Exercise Workbook

LESSON 15

Thermal -Structural Exercise

Model Description:
In this exercise, the following structure will be subjected to the
designated thermal loading and analyzed to determine the steady-state
temperature distribution. This temperature distribution will then be
applied to the structure, which shall be rigidly fixed at the designated
edges and analyzed to determine deformation and stresses due to
thermal expansion.

(fixed edge)
T = 135 C
Convection

T = 50 C
(fixed edge)

The temperature distribution for the structural analysis shall be read in

from the thermal results file.

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Exercise Procedure:
1.

Open a new database. Name it thermal_structural.db.

File/New ...
New Database Name:

thermal_structural.db

OK
The viewport (PATRANs graphics window) will appear along with a
New Model Preference form. The New Model Preference sets all
the code specific forms and options inside MSC/PATRAN.
2.

In the New Model Preference form pick the following

options

Max Model Dimension:

Analysis Code:

MSC/ADVANCED_FEA

Analysis Type:

Thermal

OK
3.

To create necessary geometry, play the session file named

model.ses.

File/Session/Play...
Session File List:

model.ses

Apply
4.

Define the temperature dependent material property table

for conductivity.

Fields
Action:

Create

Object:

Material Property

Method:

Tabular Input

Field Name:

conductivity

Active Independent Variable:

Temperature (T)

Input Data...

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Thermal -Structural Exercise

LESSON 15

A table will appear and should be filled in with the data shown below:
Temperature

Conductivity

100

14.6538

600

22.6087

1400

31.8197

OK
Apply
5.

Now create the relevant material properties for 17-4 PH

stainless steel.

Materials
Action:

Create

Object:

Isotropic

Method:

Manual Input

Material Name:

stainless 17-4 PH

Input Properties ...

Conductivity=

conductivity

Apply
Cancel
6.

Apply the steel properties to the model.

Properties
Action:

Create

Dimension:

3D

Type:

Thermal 3D Solid

Property Set Name:

prop_thermal

Input Properties ...

Material Name:

stainless 17-4 PH
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OK
Select Members:

select all solids

Add
Apply
7.

Create the temperature loading at the fixed edges.

For guidance on how to apply the temperature boundary conditions,

see Figure 15.1:
Figure 15.1 - Solid Faces to Apply Temperatures to
Face 1, 2, 3 @ 50oC
Face 4, 5. 6@ 135oC

Face 6

Face 5

Face 1

Face 4

Face 2
Face 3

First, create the temperature loading on the left side of the model.
Loads/BCs

15-6

Action:

Create

Object:

Temperature (pthermal)

Type:

Nodal

PATRAN 322 Exercise Workbook

Thermal -Structural Exercise

LESSON 15

Option:

Initial

New Set Name:

left_edge

Input Data...
50

Temperature:
OK
Select Application Region...

In order to select the appropriate solid faces, use the following entity
select icon:
Surface or Face

Select Geometric Entities:

select Faces 1,2,3

Add
OK
Apply
Next, create the loading for the right side of the model.
Action:

Create

Object:

Temp(thermal)

Type:

Nodal

New Set Name:

right_edge

Input Data...
Temperature:

135

OK
Select Application Region...

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In order to select the appropriate solid faces, use the following entity
select icon:
Surface or Face

Select Geometric Entities:

select Faces 4,5,6

Add
OK
Apply
8.

Create the convective loading condition across the middle

bar, as shown in Figure 15.2.

Figure 15.2 - Convective Region of Model

Convection Application Region

Convection Coef. 20 W/m2-C

Ambient Temp. 30o C

Loads/BC

15-8

Action:

Create

Object:

Convection

Type:

Element Uniform

PATRAN 322 Exercise Workbook

Thermal -Structural Exercise

LESSON 15

convection

New Set Name:

Input Data...
Convection:

20

Ambient Temperature:

30

OK
Select Application Region...
In order to select all 8 faces of the middle bar, temporarily change the
picking preferences so that you can select any portion of the entity.
Then simply drag the mouse to select a middle portion of the bar.
Preferences/Picking...
Enclose Any Portion of Entity
Close
Figure 15.3 - Use Pick Any Portion of Entity to select region

Region to Select

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Select Solid Faces:

select region shown in

Figure 15.3

Add
OK
Apply
Change the picking preference back to the default.
Preferences/Picking...
Enclose Entire Entity
Close
9.

Submit the model for thermal analysis.

Analysis
Action:

Analyze

Object:

Entire Model

Method:

Full Run

Job Name:

thermal_1

Step Creation...
Job Step Name:

thermal

Apply
Cancel
Step Selection...
Selected Job Steps:

thermal

Apply
Apply
You can monitor the progression of the job by looking at
thermal_1.msg and thermal_1.sta files using the UNIX command
tail -lf [filename]. You can also monitor the analysis in the
background using the UNIX command ps -a.

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Thermal -Structural Exercise

LESSON 15

10.

Once the analysis is complete read the results back into the
database

Analysis
Action:

Read Results

Object:

Results Entities

Method:

Translate

Select Results File ...

Available Files:

thermal_1.fil

OK
Apply
11.

Post process the results of the thermal analysis.

Before viewing the results, remove the boundary conditions from the
screen using the following main menu icon:
Reset Graphics

To view the steady-state temperature distribution:

Results
Action:

Create

Object:

Quick Plot

Be sure you are on the Select Results form

Select Result Cases:

Default,Step1,Total Time =1

Select Fringe Results:

Temperature(Nodal)

Apply
You should now see a the steady state temperature distribution in the
viewport window, as shown in Figure 15.4:
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Figure 15.4 - Steady State Temperature Distribution

12.

In order to perform the structural portion of the analysis,

change the preference from thermal to structural.

First, remove the results from the screen using the following main
menu icon:
Reset Graphics

Preference/Analysis...
Analysis Type:

Structural

OK
Answer OK to A matching element type with some differences was
found for property set prop_thermal.
OK
This message is to remind us that an applicable property needs to be
created for this analysis.
13.

Create a new material with the structural properties of

17-4 PH stainless steel.

Materials
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Thermal -Structural Exercise

LESSON 15

Action:

Create

Object:

Isotropic

Method:

Manual Input

Material Name:

stainless 17-4 PH
structural

Input Properties ...

Elastic Modulus:

19.65e10

Poisson Ratio:

.27

Reference Temperature:

30

Thermal Expansion
Coefficient:

10.8e-6

Apply
Cancel
14.

Now create the structural property for the model.

Properties
Action:

Create

Dimension:

3D

Type:

Solid

Property Set Name:

prop_structural

Input Properties...
Material:

stainless 17-4 PH
structural

Select Application Region...

Select Members:

select all solids

Add
Apply

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When asked if you wish to overwrite the existing property association,

respond with Yes for All.
Yes for All
15.

Create the boundary constraints which fix the model.

Loads/BCs
Action:

Create

Object:

Displacement

Type:

Nodal

New Set Name:

support

Input Data...
Translations:

<0, 0, 0>

OK
Select Application Region...
Geometry Filter:

Geometry

Select both right & left edges by choosing the solid faces shown in
Figure 15.5 (the surface select icon should still be highlighted):

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Thermal -Structural Exercise

LESSON 15

Figure 15.5 - Solid Faces to Apply support LBC to

Face 6

Face 5

Face 1

Face 4

Face 2
Face 3

Select Geometric Entities:

select Faces 1 through 6

Add
OK
Apply
16.

In order to individually select the supporting LBC, create

a load case including just the support LBC.

Load Cases
Action:
Load Case Name:

Create
structure

Assign/Prioritize Loads/BCs

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Select LBCs to Add to

Spreadsheet:

Displ_support

OK
Apply
17.

Submit a structural analysis, using the previous thermal

analysis results file to obtain the input temperature:

Analysis
Action:

Analyze

Object:

Entire Model

Method:

Full Run

Job Name:

structural_1

Step Creation...
Job Step Name:

structural

Solution Parameters...
Read Temperature File
Since this is a linear static problem, you must pick the last step and
increment of the thermal analysis for both the starting and ending
conditions. This will allow the analysis to continue assuming the final
steady state temperature distribution.
Start Step Number:

Start Increment Number:

End Step Number:

End Increment Number:

Available Files:

thermal_1.fil

OK
OK
Select Load Cases...
Available Load Cases:
OK

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PATRAN 322 Exercise Workbook

structure

Thermal -Structural Exercise

LESSON 15

Apply
Cancel
Step Selection...
Selected Job Steps:

structural

Apply
Apply
Once again, you can monitor the progression of the job by looking at
structural_1.msg and structural_1.sta files using the UNIX
command tail -lf [filename]. You can also monitor the analysis in the
background using the UNIX command ps -a.
18.

When the analysis has finished, read in the results of the

structural analysis.

Analysis
Action:

Read Results

Object:

Result Entities

Method:

Translate

Select Results File...

Available Files:

structural_1.fil

OK
Apply
19.

Postprocess the results of the structural analysis.

First, unpost the geometry from the viewport by doing the following:
Display/Plot/Erase ...
Erase All Geometry
OK

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Clean up the graphics using the following main menu icon:

Reset Graphics

Results
Action:

Create

Object:

Quick Plot

Click on the Select Results form

Select Result Cases:

select the last result case

Select Fringe Result:

Stress, Components

Select Deformation Result:

Deformation, Displacements

Apply

Results
Form Type:

Basic

Select Result Cases:

select the last result case

Select Fringe Result:

Stress, Components

Select Deformation Result:

Deformation, Displacements

Apply
Notice how the thermal expansion of the model, when restrained by
the fixity boundary conditions, induces stresses. To get a better view
of the stresses, select the following toolbar icon:
Iso 4 View
The picture shown in Figure 15.6 should be seen in your viewport:

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LESSON 15

Thermal -Structural Exercise

Figure 15.6 - Deformation due to Thermal Expansion

Close the database and quit PATRAN.

This concludes this exercise.

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PATRAN 322 Exercise Workbook